System and method for bidirectional flow and controlling fluid flow in a conduit
First Claim
1. A system for measuring bidirectional flow of fluid in a conduit comprising:
- means incorporated in a conduit for creating a pressure differential in the fluid flowing in the conduit;
a plurality of sensor means disposed partially within the conduit and positioned about the pressure differential creating means for measuring the pressure differential created by said pressure differential creating means and for producing signals indicative of the measurements, wherein at least one sensor means is disposed upstream of normal flow direction of the pressure differential creating means, at least one sensor means is disposed at the pressure differential creating means, and at least one sensor means is disposed downstream of the pressure differential creating means; and
a control means for receiving signals from the sensor means and for computing flow direction and magnitude from the signals, including backflow magnitude from the pressure differential between the at least one sensor means disposed upstream and the at least one sensor means disposed at the pressure differential creating means, and the pressure differential between the at least one sensor disposed upstream and the at least one sensor means disposed downstream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring bidirectional flow, including backflow, of fluid in a conduit. The system utilizes a structural mechanism to create a pressure differential in the conduit. Pressure sensors are positioned upstream from the mechanism, at the mechanism, and downstream from the mechanism. Data from the pressure sensors are transmitted to a microprocessor or computer, and pressure differential detected between the pressure sensors is then used to calculate the backflow. Control signals may then be generated by the microprocessor or computer to shut off valves located in the conduit, upon the occurrence of backflow, or to control flow, total material dispersed, etc. in the conduit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for measuring bidirectional flow of fluid in a conduit comprising:
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means incorporated in a conduit for creating a pressure differential in the fluid flowing in the conduit; a plurality of sensor means disposed partially within the conduit and positioned about the pressure differential creating means for measuring the pressure differential created by said pressure differential creating means and for producing signals indicative of the measurements, wherein at least one sensor means is disposed upstream of normal flow direction of the pressure differential creating means, at least one sensor means is disposed at the pressure differential creating means, and at least one sensor means is disposed downstream of the pressure differential creating means; and a control means for receiving signals from the sensor means and for computing flow direction and magnitude from the signals, including backflow magnitude from the pressure differential between the at least one sensor means disposed upstream and the at least one sensor means disposed at the pressure differential creating means, and the pressure differential between the at least one sensor disposed upstream and the at least one sensor means disposed downstream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for measuring backflow of fluid normally flowing forwardly in a conduit comprising:
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a means incorporated in the conduit for producing a pressure differential in the fluid flowing in the conduit; a first pressure sensor disposed upstream of the pressure differential producing means for detecting pressure and producing a signal indicating the pressure; a second pressure sensor disposed at the pressure differential producing means for detecting pressure and producing a signal indicating the pressure; a third pressure sensor disposed downstream of the pressure differential producing means for detecting pressure and producing a signal indicating the pressure; and a control means responsive to signals from the pressure sensors, for computing backflow magnitude from the pressure differential between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and the pressure differential between the first pressure sensor and the third pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for measuring backflow in a conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a plurality of pressure sensors in the vicinity of a pressure differential producing means incorporated in the conduit, at least one of the pressure sensors being positioned upstream of the pressure differential producing means, at least one of the pressure sensors being positioned at the pressure differential producing means, and at least one of the pressure sensors being positioned downstream of the pressure differential producing means; conveying data from the plurality of pressure sensors to a microcomputer via a data communications bus; and calculating backflow from the pressure differential between the pressure sensor positioned at the pressure differential producing means and the pressure sensor positioned upstream, and the pressure differential between the pressure sensor positioned upstream and the pressure sensor positioned downstream. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification